Former and feeder



' May 15, 1928.

- l. c. POPPER 'EO MER AND FEEDER ig 9a July 9, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 15, 1928.

I. C. POPPER FORMER AND FEEDER Filed July 9, 1925 4 Sheetg-Sheet 2 May 15, 1928. 1,670,165

' l. c. HOPPER FORMER AND FEEDER Filed July 9, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 15, 1928.

are three distinct spiral turns.

roRMEE AND FEEDER.

My invention relates to an improvement in formers and feeders for semi-solid mateapproximately six (-6) inches; ofjthe inter a mediate turn 6 approximately four 1 rial such as butter, cheese and the like.

This present invention has been designed more particularly as a butter-conveyor,-and

to go with the automatic butter'cutter machine, set forth in Letters Patent Noi' 1,424,117, granted July 25, 1922.

In that machine, a former and screw-0011a veyor is used for forcing the material from the hopper to the cutting-wheel. The present invention represents'a development of that general type of conveyor, and has been made in its present form in order to feed the material through the machine with uniformity and the required speed. Obviously it is applicable to the force feed of any material of plastic consistency such as butter, cheese, soap, yeast, and similar substances too numerous to mention. I

In the accompanying drawings: a

Fig. 1 is a side view of the screw conveyor;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the former with parts broken away showing the screw;

Fig. 4 is a front end view of the former head;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the plate for holding-the wires for cutting the material into halves or quarters;

. Fig. 6 is a rear view of theformer;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section; and

Fig. 8 is a perspective'of oneof the adjustable blocks.

The numeral 1 represents the drive-shaft; 2 is a flange; and 3 is the screw which is of special design and construction as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings. The outer or extreme end 4 is flat, free and unsupported, the entire support and rotation preferably being from the shaft 1 at the other end of the conveyor.

In the particular conveyor shown, there The first turn 5 from the flat end 4, it will be observed, is of larger diameter and circumference than the other two turns 6 and 7.

screw is approximately" twelve I andone-half (12 inches; the diameter of the turn 5 inches; of the flange 2 approximatelyfsix' (6) inches, and the space between the turns Sand 6 is approximately six and one.

half (6 7) inches, whereas between the turns 6 and 7 the space isapproximately four (4) inches.

While these dimensions may not be absothe output is limited only by the ability of the operator to feed material to the conveyor, as the latter takes care of it andv pushes it on as fast as the material is fed mto the machine.

The screw conveyor is located in a divided box 8 which has an opening 9 at the top i through which the material is fed to the conveyor. and lower sections of the divided box 8 to-:

.gether,

The materialissuingfrmri the box 8 is given shape by a former especially devised for the purpose and it may be cut into two or four parts accordingly as the butter or other material is to be divided into half or cutting machine to which materialis fed.

The construction of a suitable type of former will now be described. A plate 10 Hinged bolts 9 hold'the upper quarter pounds when finally severed by the preferably made of wood and faced at its A pair of guide bars 16 are secured horij zontally across the discharge end or nozzle of the machine and two blocks 17 are slid ably mounted therebetween and they are;

each adjusted by a screw 18 swivelled in a plate 19 and'having a wing nut 20 by means of which the screw is turned to adjust the.

blocks 17 in and out to regulate the transverse area and size of the material issuing from the machine.

A metal frame 21 is secured in place by screws 22 extending into the guide bars 16 on the end of the machine.

When it is desired to cut the material into half or quarter sizes, a plate 23 is secured in the frame 21 and wires 24 are held under tension across the orifice 25 therein by the tensionflscrews 26 which. are controlled by wing nuts 27. The plate 23 when used is held in place by screws .28 and clamp nuts and pitch toward the outer free end and terminatlng in a substantially flat outer end,

the plane surface of said flatend being approximately at right angles to the axis of the screw conveyor for creating a continuous push and feed forward of the material conveyed.

2. A conveyor of the screw type supported at one end only and havinga plurality of turns increasing in diameter and pitchtoward the outer free end and terminating in a substantially flat outer'end, the plane surface of said flat end being substantially at right angles to the axis of the screw,.conveyor for creating, a continuous push and feed forward of the material conveyed.

Intestimony whereof'I aifix' my signa, ture;

. ISAAC c li 'op nn 

